NEWS

RSU Innovation Center to Host Economic Gardening Conference

The Rogers State University Innovation Center will host the 2nd annual Economic Gardening Conference in Claremore, Okla., on Nov. 16, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The conference's primary focus is to give business leaders and economic development representatives the tools necessary to cultivate viable business development programs that will strengthen their communities, regions and states. It will be located in the Grand Ballroom of the RSU Centennial Center.

Economic development practitioners from throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states practicing economic gardening or interested in learning more about the concept are invited to attend.

"This is a great opportunity to meet people practicing economic gardening," said Dr. Ray Brown, vice president of economic & community development at RSU. "We are excited to host this event at our Claremore campus and support more communities embracing the benefits of implementing economic gardening in their area."

Economic gardening is a development strategy that was first coined in Colorado in the mid-1980's. In this approach, secondary market research is used to retain and expand existing businesses, as opposed to spending resources to attract new businesses to a community. As a result, businesses stabilize and grow, create new jobs, and generate new investments in their communities.

Gibbons is co-inventor of economic gardening. Gibbons has run this project for the City of Littleton for 24 years. From the period 1990 to 2010, the number of jobs in Littleton more than doubled from 15,000 to 30,000 and sales tax revenues more than tripled from $6 million to $21 million. The city did not recruit one industry during this period, nor did it offer one cent in incentives or tax rebates.

Lange has led the Edward Lowe Foundation to increased national recognition and a focus on second-stage entrepreneurs. To assist these entrepreneurs, the foundation works through local and regional support organizations to deliver education programs, recognition events and information services. Lange currently oversees the foundation's national advocacy for economic gardening and the development of Youreconomy.org.